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What to Pay an ICU Registered Nurse in New York, NY (2026)

Last updated: May 15, 2026 Built for: Total Rewards, Comp, HR Sample: BLS OEWS + disclosed-range postings
Market Median
$124,000
base, annual
Competitive Range
$108K–$142K
25th–75th percentile
YoY Movement
+3.8%
trailing 12 months
Days to Fill
~35
New York metro average
To hire a ICU Registered Nurse in New York at market, plan on a base salary range of $108,000 to $142,000, with $124,000 as the midpoint. To attract candidates in a market where average time-to-fill runs 35 days, expect to lead at $142K–$162K plus a sign-on bonus, common in skilled nursing settings. New York REQUIRES pay range disclosure under the NY Pay Transparency Law.

How to set your ICU RN pay range in New York

Three pay positions, modeled against current New York market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.

Lag Market
Pay Below Median
$96K–$108K
Workable in non-acute settings with strong non-cash differentiation. Expect longer fill times and turnover ~1.4× the New York average.
Match Market — recommended
Pay at Median
$117.6K–$131.2K
Default for most New York employers. Competitive enough to fill in ~35 days. A range width of ~30% (min $108,000 to max $142,000) keeps compa-ratio movement smooth across a ICU RN's typical 8–12 year tenure.
Lead Market
Pay Above Median
$134.8K–$162K
Use for hard-to-fill specialties (wound care, IV therapy, bilingual), 24/7 SNF roles, or when speed-to-hire trumps budget. Reduces fill time by 35–45% on average.

ICU RN salary percentile distribution in New York, NY

Where the New York market actually sits for ICU RN base pay.

10th $96K
25th $108K
Median $124K
75th $142K
90th $162K

Most New York employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($124,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $108,000 and a max of $142,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.

New York pay transparency compliance for ICU RN job postings

What you must post when hiring a ICU RN in New York.

Required. New York requires employers with 4+ employees to include a good-faith salary range in every job posting, promotion, or transfer opportunity advertised to NYC-area candidates.
Requirement Applies When Penalty for Non-Compliance
Salary or hourly range in posting 4+ employees; role performed in NY Up to $1,000 first violation; up to $3,000 subsequent
Job description included Where description exists Same schedule

For a ICU RN role in New York, a compliant good-faith range looks like $108,000 to $142,000. A compliant good-faith range for this role in New York is $108,000–$142,000.

Top ICU RN employers in New York — who you're competing against

Top healthcare employers hiring ICU RNs in the New York metro and what they're posting.

Employer Type Disclosed Range Sign-on Bonus
NewYork-Presbyterian Academic medical center $120K–$155K Common ($8K–$15K)
Mount Sinai Academic medical center $118K–$152K Common ($8K–$15K)
NYU Langone Academic medical center $122K–$158K Common ($8K–$15K)
Northwell Health Integrated health system $115K–$148K Very common ($12K–$22K)
RWJBarnabas (NJ) Health system $112K–$145K Very common ($12K–$22K)

ICU RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in New York

How hard is it to fill a ICU RN role in New York.

~35
Avg Days to Fill
~2,200
Active Postings
~22,000
New York ICU RN Workforce
Very tight
Supply : Demand

Skill premiums ICU RN candidates command in New York, NY

Skill / Credential Pay Premium Demand Signal
CCRN Required baseline Standard
Cardiac / transplant ICU +6–10% Very high
Neuro ICU +6–10% Very high
ECMO specialist +8–12% High

ICU RN total compensation in New York — what candidates expect beyond base

Total rewards mix for ICU RNs in New York. "Prevalence" reflects share of New York disclosed-range postings including each element.

Component Typical Value Prevalence in New York Postings
Base salary $124,000 (median) 100%
Shift differential +18–28% premium ~94%
Sign-on bonus $8,000–$22,000 ~78%
CCRN certification pay +8–14% on base ~72%
Union benefits (NYSNA) Strong DB pension ~45%
Estimated total comp benchmark ~$162K–$195K —

Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.

ICU RN pay by setting in New York — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health

Where the ICU RN range splits by employer type in the New York metro.

Setting Median Competitive Range Hiring Difficulty
Medical ICU (MICU) $120,000 $108K–$138K Very high
Surgical ICU (SICU) $124,000 $110K–$142K Very high
Cardiac ICU (CICU) $130,000 $116K–$148K Very high
Neuro ICU $130,000 $116K–$148K Very high
Transplant ICU $132,000 $118K–$152K Very high

ICU RN salary in New York vs. other New York and nearby metros

What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.

Location Median Base vs. New York Hiring Difficulty
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA $124,000 — Tight
Boston–Cambridge–Nashua, MA-NH $128,000 +3.2% Very tight
Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD $108,000 −12.9% Tight
Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV $118,000 −4.8% Tight
New York statewide $115,000 −7.3% —
U.S. national $108,000 — —

FAQ: hiring a ICU Registered Nurse in New York, NY

Market median is $124,000 for base pay. To match market, set a range with the midpoint at $124,000 — typically $108,000 to $142,000. To lead the market, plan on $142K–$162K base plus a sign-on bonus.
Yes. New York's pay transparency law (effective September 2023) requires a good-faith salary or hourly range in every posting for roles that can or will be performed in New York.
$111,000 falls below the New York market median of $124,000 — roughly at the 25th–50th percentile locally. Acceptable in SNF or physician office settings where the candidate pool is deeper; below-market for hospital or specialty roles.
Roughly 78% of NYC ICU RN postings include a sign-on bonus. Northwell and RWJBarnabas lead with $12K–$22K offers. Union shops (NYP, Mount Sinai) offer them less frequently.
Average fill time is approximately 35 days in the New York metro. Roles paid above the 75th percentile ($142K+) fill in roughly 18–22 days. Roles below the 25th percentile ($108K) commonly take 45+ days and have elevated turnover within the first 90 days.
By New York-metro posting volume: NewYork-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, NYU Langone, Northwell Health, RWJBarnabas (NJ) lead the pack.
A 30–35% range width (min to max) is standard for ICU RN in New York — for example, $108,000 to $142,000. Narrower than 25% compresses progression and creates compa-ratio pressure within 18 months. New York does not specify a maximum range width, but the range must be a good-faith estimate of what the employer will pay.
Yes. New York's law covers internal transfer and promotion postings, not just external job ads.

Related ICU RN pay benchmarks — New York metros and nearby nursing roles

Same role, nearby metros
ICU RN pay benchmark — Los Angeles, CA → ICU RN pay benchmark — Chicago, IL → ICU RN pay benchmark — Houston, TX → All ICU RN pay benchmarks →
Related roles in New York
Certified Nursing Assistant pay benchmark — New York → Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist pay benchmark — New York → Licensed Practical Nurse pay benchmark — New York → Nurse Practitioner pay benchmark — New York → Registered Nurse pay benchmark — New York → Travel Nurse pay benchmark — New York → Emergency Room Registered Nurse pay benchmark — New York → Operating Room Registered Nurse pay benchmark — New York → All roles' pay benchmarks →

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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.